The bottom line is clear: Our vital interests in Afghanistan are limited and military victory is not the key to achieving them. On the contrary, waging a lengthy counterinsurgency war in Afghanistan may well do more to aid Taliban recruiting than to dismantle the group, help spread conflict further into Pakistan, unify radical groups that might otherwise be quarreling amongst themselves, threaten the long-term health of the U.S. economy, and prevent the U.S. government from turning its full attention to other pressing problems. -- Afghanistan Study Group

Saturday, October 27, 2012

Reported security incidents#1: Afghan police wiped out a suicide bomber when he tried to blow up a police hostel in the city of Baglan, in the north of the country. According to the Khaama Press online paper, the suicide bomber tried, on Friday night, to sneak into the building where guests had come to, to celebrate the Id al-Adha Muslim holiday. But the police, tipped off about the coming attack the day before, prevented him from detonating his explosive belt.#2: At least nine militants were killed and eight others wounded in a raid by security forces in Khyber Agency on Friday, officials said. According to political administrators, security forces backed by helicopter gunships pounded suspected militant hideouts in Bara tehsil of Khyber Agency, killing nine extremists and injuring several others. Five militant positions were also destroying in the shelling. Khyber Agency, northwest part of country borders Afghanistan was once stronghold of Pakistani Taliban, now army control most of the region.

#3: According to local authorities in western Farah province of Afghanistan, provincial intelligence — National Directorate of Security (NDS) chief was attacked by unknown gunmen in this province.

The officials further added the incident took place early Friday morning while provincial NDS chief Abdul Samad was attending Eid prayers. Provincial governor spokesman Abdul Rahman Zhwandai confirming the report said the assailant gunman has been arrested and an Afghan intelligence officer along with some civilians were injured following the attack

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Iraqi insurgents unleashed a string of bombings and other attacks primarily targeting the country’s Shiite community on Saturday, leaving at least 40 dead in a challenge to government efforts to promote a sense of stability by preventing attacks during a major Muslim holiday.

The bloodshed appeared to be the worst in Iraq since Sept. 9, when insurgents launched a wave of bombings and other attacks that left at least 92 dead in one of the country’s bloodiest days this year.